News Story: Textron company eyes Australia in wake of Tiger helo critique

AH-1Z Viper (Left), UH-1Y Venom (Right) [Click Image to Enlarge]

By: Pierre Tran

LE BOURGET, France — Bell Helicopter, a Textron unit, is keen to pitch to Australia in response to reported criticism of the Airbus Helicopters Tiger attack helicopter, said Richard Harris, vice president for international military sales. 

“Sure it’s a market, you bet,” he told Defense News on the first day of the Paris Air Show, when asked if Bell would pursue an order from Australia. 

Bell is also competing in two competitions in Europe, with the results expected within six months, assuming stable political factors, he said, while declining to disclose those countries. 

Poland and the Czech Republic are reported to be holding tenders to acquire new helicopters, with the latter looking to order 12 light multi-role units. 

Harris was confident the design of a sealed rotorhead on its AH-1Z attack and UH-1Y combat utility helicopters could overcome maintenance problems arising from sand and harsh conditions, such as that found in Australia. 

Read the full story at DefenseNews

Think Tank: Sea, air and land updates (9-Aug-2016)

Bell AH-1Z Viper Attack Helicopter

Christopher Cowan, Alexander Vipond and Elisabeth Buchan

Sea State

Defence contractor Raytheon has won a US$523 million (AU$687 million) contract to provide the US Navy with 47 Standard Missile-3 (SM-3) Block 1B interceptors. The missiles form the backbone of the US Navy’s ship-based ballistic missile defence capability, and are deployed on the US Navy’s fleet of Aegis destroyers and cruisers.

Still on acquisition, India has recently agreed to buy three Admiral Grigorovich-class guided missile frigates from Russia. These ships were originally scheduled to be delivered to the Russian Navy as a part of its naval modernisation program, but Ukraine’s 2014 ban on military exports to Russia has left the vessels without powerplants. India, however, isn’t constrained by the export ban and is able to acquire the Ukrainian-made engines.

And finally, in a move celebrated by American sailors around the world, the US Navy announced it was replacing its oft-ridiculed Navy Working Uniform (NWU) I. Commonly referred to as ‘blueberries’ due to their blue and grey digital camouflage (‘aquaflage’) pattern, the NWU I has gained a poor reputation since its introduction to sailors’ wardrobes in 2008. Notably (and somewhat ironically), the uniform’s aquaflage pattern was criticised for only being effective when a sailor fell overboard. Other major complaints focused on the weight and flammability of the uniforms. The US Navy will begin transitioning to its new uniform, the woodland patterned NWU III, in October 2016.

Editorial: US Navy Builds Largest-Ever Amphibious Assault Ship for F-35 Fighters

LHA-6 USS America (Image: Wiki Commons)

By Franz-Stefan Gady

The America-class will be the size of other countries’ aircraft carriers.

Over at military.com, Kris Osborne reports that the assembly of the second America-class amphibious assault ship, USS Tripoli, is going according to plan, with a third of initial construction already complete.

The ship “is approximately 30% complete. Fabrication has started on 211 units, 97% of all units, and 84 grand blocks are erected — 47% of the total,” according to a U.S. Navy spokesperson who provided Osborne with a written statement.

Scheduled for launch in in July 2017 and with a tentative induction date set for December 18, the ship is specifically designed to accommodate Marine Corps F-35B Joint Strike Fighters, along a host of other aircraft such as MV-22 Osprey tiltrotor aircraft, CH-53 Super Stallions, and UH-1Y Huey helicopters.

The USS Tripoli, called LHA 7 [Landing Helicopter Assault] 7, is being assembled at the Huntington Ingalls shipyard in Pascagoula, Mississippi. Once finished, the ship will displace more than 44,000 tons–similar to the size of fixed-wing aircraft carriers in France and India. Measuring 844 feet long and 106 feet wide the ship, in fact, is a small aircraft carrier.

Read the full story at The Diplomat

USA: U.S. Aircraft Land in Nepal to Assist Earthquake Recovery

By Terri Moon Cronk

DoD News, Defense Media Activity

WASHINGTON, May 4, 2015 – U.S. military aircraft landed in Kathmandu, Nepal, yesterday to assist in recovery efforts following a magnitude 7.8 earthquake that struck there April 25, Pentagon spokesman Army Col. Steve Warren told reporters today.

The Defense Department’s primary contribution to the recovery work involves rotary-wing assets, Warren said.

Five U.S. Marine Corps aircraft -- a UH-1Y Huey helicopter and four MV-22 Ospreys, began arriving in Nepal yesterday morning, he said.

“These aircraft will help emergency responders access [Nepal’s] remote areas, which are home to the earthquake’s poorest and most vulnerable [people],” Warren said.

News Story: Chinese Threat, Disaster Relief Drive Asia-Pacific Acquisition

AW159 Wildcat ASW Helicopter (File Photo)

By WENDELL MINNICK

TAIPEI — Japan, Singapore, South Korea and Taiwan are seeking a variety of helicopters, including the V-22 Osprey tilt-rotor aircraft, to offset China’s growing maritime threat in the East China and South China seas, and to deal with other security issues, such as humanitarian and disaster relief missions.

The stronger trend in Asia appears to be toward procuring utility helicopters, but attack helicopters are also in demand.

The Osprey

Japan and Singapore have expressed interest in the Bell-Boeing V-22 Osprey, which takes off like a helicopter and flies like a plane.

For Japan, China’s recent agitation over the Japan-controlled Senkaku Islands (claimed by China as the Diaoyu Islands) has raised fears China might attempt to seize the islands by force.

This has put Japan’s Self-Defense Forces on notice: Improve range and capacity in its vertical-lift capability or risk losing the Senkakus, and possibly part of the Ryukyu Island chain, to China.

Japanese defense industry and government reports indicate the country is looking to procure 17 V-22s within the next five years.

Read the full story at DefenseNews

USA: Bonhomme Richard Offloads 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit

Landing operations during Exercise Ssang Yong 2014

By Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Adam D. Wainwright

WHITE BEACH, Okinawa (NNS) -- The forward-deployed amphibious assault ship USS Bonhomme Richard (LHD 6) offloaded Marines from the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) after conducting joint-force operations in the U.S. 7th Fleet area of responsibility, April 24.

During the patrol, Bonhomme Richard and the 31st MEU participated in Exercise Ssang Yong 2014 with their counterparts from the Republic of Korea (ROK).

The exercise was the first to include a joint, combined command and control headquarters which was led by Rear Adm. Hugh Wetherald, commander, Amphibious Forces 7th Fleet; ROK Rear Adm. Chun, Jung-soo, commander, Flotilla Five; Brig. Gen. Paul Kennedy, commanding general, 3d MEB; and ROK Brig. Gen. Cho, Kang-jae, deputy commander landing force.

USA: Boxer ARG, 13th MEU Return from Deployment

From Boxer Amphibious Ready Group Public Affairs

<< USS Boxer (LHD 4) transits San Diego Bay, April 25. (U.S. Navy/MC3 Derek A. Harkins) Image: Flickr user U.S. Pacific Fleet

SAN DIEGO - More than 4,500 Sailors and Marines of the Boxer Amphibious Ready Group (ARG) and 13th Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) completed an eight-month deployment April 25 when the ships arrived at Naval Base San Diego.

While deployed, the Boxer ARG/13th MEU served in the U.S. 5th, 6th and 7th Fleet Areas of Responsibility (AOR), providing maritime security operations, crisis response capability, theater security cooperation and forward naval presence.

The Boxer ARG (BOXARG), led by Commander, Amphibious Squadron (PHIBRON) 1, is comprised of PHIBRON 1 staff, multipurpose amphibious assault ship USS Boxer (LHD 4), amphibious dock-landing ship USS Harpers Ferry (LSD 49), amphibious transport dock ship USS New Orleans (LPD 18) and Fleet Surgical Team 3. Additional detachments included Tactical Air Control Squadron 11, Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron 21, as well as Assault Craft Unit (ACU) 1 and 5, and Beachmaster Unit 1.